Mail-box.



PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

E. T. MARSH. MAIL BOX.

APILIOATION FILED SEPT.21. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed September 21,1905. Serial No. 279,497.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN T. MARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in mail-boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide a mail-box having means whereby the mail-receiving slot in said box will be automatically closed after mail-matter has been deposited therein.

A further object is to provide means whereby the slot-closing device of the box may be operated to open said slot either by the hand or the knee of the party placing mail therein, thus permitting the opening of the box and the insertion of mail-matter when but one hand is unoccupied and free.

'With the above and other objects in view.

the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail-box constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the box closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the box open or in position to receive mail-matter, and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the box, which may be constructed of any suitable material and in any suitable shape, said box being here shown as of rectangular form having a semicylindrical or arch-shaped top 2. In one side of the top of the box is formed a horizontally-disposed mail-receiving slot 3. On the lower edge of the slot 3 is formed an inwardly-projecting flange or lip 4.

Pivotally mounted in the top of the box 1 is a semicylindrical or segmental-shaped mailreceptacle 5, in one side of which is formed a mail-receiving slot 6, which is adapted to be brought into alinement with the slot 3 in the box. The receptacle 5 is mounted and arranged in the box 1 in such a manner that the same will be overbalanced and will normally fall by gravity to a position shown in Fig. 2

of the drawings, in which the mail-receiving slot 3 in the box 1 will be closed by the segmental side or top of the receptacle. On said se mental top or side of the receptacle is secure one edge of a segmental plate 7, said plate being spaced from the top or side of the receptacle, and between the plate and the free edge of said plate, is secured a longitudinally-disposed bar or strip 8, thereby forming a channel or pocket which is adapted to be engaged with the flanged lower edge of the receiving-slot 3 in the box 1 when the receptacle 5 is in a lowered or inoperative position, thereby forming a water-tight closure for the slot 3.

.The pivot-pins or trunnions of the receptacle 5 are adapted to project through the ends of the box 1, and to said pins are connected hand-operating knobs 9, by which the receptacle may be swung or turned upwardly by eitherhand to bring the slot 6 therein opposite the slot 3 in the box to permit the insertion of mail into said receptacle, after which when the knobs 9 are released the receptacle will drop to its former position, thereby depositing the mail matter received. therein into the box 1.-

Pivotally connected to one end of the receptacle 5, adjacent to the front side thereof, is a downwardly-projecting inclined operating-rod 10, the lower end of which projects through the bottom of the box 1 and has secured thereto an operating disk or knob 12. The lower end of the rod 10 projects below the box 1 and in position to be engaged by the knees or legs of persons depositing mail,where by the receptacle 5 may be operated by said persons when their hands are otherwise occupied and it is not convenient for them to operate the receptacle by the hand-knobs 9. On the top of the box 1 and projecting across the ends of the receiving-slot 3 are depending guard plates or strips 13, which cover the space between the ends of the receptacle 5 and the ends of the box, thereby preventing the insertion of any object between said ends.

By constructing a box as here shown and described the receiving-slot in the same will be normally closed and access to the con tents of the box will at all times be prevented, and by providing a mail-receptacle having operating devices as herein shown and described the same may be operated by the either hand or by the knees or legs of the party depositing mail in the box, thus obvitop or side of the receptacle, adjacent to the ating the necessity of using both hands in depositing mail-matter. The box 1 is provided with the usual or with any suitable door or drawer for removing the mail therefrom.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without re uiring a more extended explanation.

aving thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A mail-box having a semicylindrical top in which is formed a normally closed mail-receiving slot, a combined segmental mail-receptacle and slot-closing device pivotally mounted in said top, said receptacle having formed therein a receiving-opening, handknobs connected to said receptacle whereby the same may be operated by hand to open said slot, and an operating-rod connected to said receptacle and extending downwardly in position to be engaged by the knee to open said slot, substantially as described.

2. A mail-box having a normally closed mail-receiving slot, a combined segmental mail-receptacle and slot-closing device pivotally mounted in said box and operating by gravity to close said slot, said receptacle having formed therein, a mail-receiving opening, hand-knobs secured to the pivots of said receptacle whereby the same may be operated, an operating-rod connected thereto and extending through the bottom of the box and a knob or head formed on the lower projecting end of said operating-rod, substantially as described.

3. A mail-box having a normally closed mail-receiving slot, a combined segmental mail-receptacle and slot-closing device pivotally mounted in said box and operating by gravity to close said slot, said receptacle having formed therein a mail-receiving opening, an inwardly-projecting stop-flange formed on the lower edge of said slot to limit the movement of said receptacle, means arranged on the top of the receptacle to receive the flanged lower edge of said slot, thereby forming, a water-tight closure for the same when the receptacle is in a lowered position, means whereby said receptacle is operated by hand, and means whereby the same is operated by the knee, substantially as described.

4. A mail-box having a normally closed mail-receiving slot, a combined segmental mail-receptacle and slot-closing device pivotally mounted in said box and operating by gravity to close said slot, said receptacle having formed therein a mail-receiving opening, an inwardlyprojecting stop flange or lip formed on the lower edge of said slot to limit the movement of said receptacle, protectingstrips arranged at the ends of said slot to cover the space between the ends of said receptacle and the ends of the box, a segmental plate secured to and at its outer edge spaced from the segmental top of said receptacle, a laterally-projecting strip arranged between the spaced edge of said plate and the segmental top of the receptacle, thereby forming a channel to receive the lower flanged edge of the mail-receiving slot in said box, hand-operating knobs connected with said receptacle, an operating-rod connected thereto and projecting through the bottom of the box, whereby the same may be operated by the knee, and a door to remove the mail from said box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN T. MARSH. Witnesses:

RUTH E. MARSH, WILMOT GAsE'rE. 

